Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2

A fragment showing Ephesians 4:16-29 on recto side of Papyrus 49 from the third century.
Book Epistle to the Ephesians
Bible part New Testament
Order in the Bible part 10
Category Pauline epistles

Ephesians 2 is the second chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle.[1][2]It contains the well-known verse "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."[3]

Text

Structure

This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):

Verse 3

New King James Version

...among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. [4]

The verse describes that before being saved, converts were just as bad as those outside the faith - that they gave into their baser thoughts and impulses.

There is debate about the phrase "children of wrath". Some indicate it refers to Original Sin, in which God was angered by Adam and Eve for disobeying him. Others believe it refers to the descendants of Caine, who slew Abel in his anger and brought murder into the world.

Verse 8

New King James Version

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,[5]

Verse 9

New King James Version

not of works, lest anyone should boast.[6]

Verse 10

New King James Version

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.[7]

Not as men only, but as Christians; not as creatures merely, but as new creatures; the work of grace upon the soul seems chiefly designed, which like a poem, as the word may be rendered, is a very curious work; the king's daughter is all glorious within, for this is an internal work, and is a good and excellent one; it is not indeed perfected at once, but is gradually carried on, till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun it; the author of it is God, it is not man's work; nor is it the work of ministers, no, nor of angels, but it is God's work: sometimes it is ascribed to the Spirit, who regenerates and sanctifies; and sometimes to the Son of God, who quickens whom he will; and sometimes to the Father, who reveals his Son, and draws men to him, and who seems to be meant here: the subjects of this divine operation, are the persons described in ( Ephesians 2:1-3 ) and include both Jews and Gentiles; and express the distinguishing grace of God, that they and not others, and who were by nature children of wrath as others, should be his workmanship: and this is mentioned to show, that salvation can not be by any works of men, since all their works are either wrought for them, or in them, by God; salvation is a work wrought for them without them; and sanctification is a work wrought in them by God, of his good pleasure; and all their good works are fruits of his grace, as follows:[8]

the work of grace is a creation, or a creature, a new creature; not a new vamp of old Adam's principles, but; an infusion of new ones, and is a work of almighty power; and such who have it wrought in them, are said to be created in Christ; because as soon as a man becomes a new creature, he is openly and visibly in Christ; and by these new principles of grace which are created in him, he is fit and ready, and in a capacity to perform good works; the new man formed in him, is formed for righteousness and true holiness; the internal principle of grace both excites unto, and qualifies for, the performance of righteous and holy actions:[8]

or has "before prepared"; for the preparation of good works to be performed by saints, and the preparation of them for the performance of them; are both from the Lord; God has appointed good works to be done by his people and in his word he has declared what they are he would have done; and it is his will not only that they should do them, but continue to do them; not only that they should do a single act or more, but walk in them; their conversation and course of life should be one continued series of good works; but the intention is not that they should be saved by them, but that they should walk in them; and this being the pre-ordination of God, as it shows that predestination is not according to good works, since good works are the fruits and effects of it, so likewise that it is no licentious doctrine; seeing it provides for the performance of good works, as well as secures grace and glory.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
  2. ↑ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
  3. ↑ http://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-8.htm
  4. ↑ Ephesians 2:3
  5. ↑ Ephesians 2:8
  6. ↑ Ephesians 2:9
  7. ↑ Ephesians 2:10
  8. 1 2 3 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, - Ephesians 2:10

External links

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